CD Reviews

Mingus' live classic

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 07/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the several Mingus works I'd describe as near-essential, not to mention probably his greatest live album ever. The group is a quintet, including key Mingus associates like the legendary Eric Dolphy and tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin (who played on Mingus Ah Um). You'd expect this to have a free-jazz influence, given Dolphy's presence, but that's not prominent (though it certainly shows up on "Better Get It In Yo' Soul", more specifically Dolph's playing): this leans more towards Mingus' rootsy, gospel-blues approach to jazz. There are even two takes on standards ("What Love?", a slightly revised "What Is This Thing Called Love?"; "April in Paris", which feels very out-of-place and is easily the weakest song on the album). Most of that are Mingus' gospel-blues concert standards like "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting"; "Folk Forms Number 1" and "Better Get It In Yo' Soul" - all are played with Mingus' characteristic enthusiasm, all reveal the man's compositional brilliance, and the former is the album's top song, though "What Love?" deserves top honors too for the bass solo alone. If that weren't enough for you, the playing on this album is superb: just listen to the sax solo on "Better Get It In Yo' Soul"! Antibes isn't my favorite Mingus album like it used to be, but it's still a key part of the man's huge catalogue."

April Rains Song

a gentle sound | USA | 04/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a year and twelve days when my parents oblivious to Antibes missed this concert in Juan-les-Pins. Many years later I tried to make up for it.Darn swingless student parents starting off in forgotten corners with nothing but shoestrings. Cause it was clearly happening in Antibes.

If you want a nice live album from a place with spirits that touch you, real lyrical ones, percussively cool, this would be the one I'd pull out for that certain April birthday. If you were considering giving a gift that would be a gift, and worth the effort to try to wrap it up for your heart beat, click on.

I, personally, love Antibes. So, if I could walk, which I can't, I would go there and chill in july and catch the jazz again. Man. This work takes you there. And I'd do it with no regrets.It's so now, so fresh. I find that remarkable. Listening this early evening is walk enough. It is alive, oddly enough. Really"